Millennium Dome (Hansard, 10 November 1999)

§ Mr. Peter Ainsworth
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if construction work on each of the zones in the Millennium Dome will be completed by 31 December. [97774]

§ Janet Anderson
[holding answer 8 November 1999]: Progress on the Millennium Dome remains on time and on budget. The construction and development phases for the Dome are nearing completion and the transition to exhibit fit-out is in full flow. All zones will be complete by 31 December.

§ Mr. Peter Ainsworth
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the use of the Millennium Dome site after the closure of the exhibition. [95177]

§ Janet Anderson
[holding answer 25 October 1999]: The Government is committed to identifying a sustainable, viable use for the Dome after the Millennium Experience ends and launched a competition for that purpose on 4 March 1999. The competition is proceeding 623W well and we are pleased with the level of interest that has been shown. Bidders have now provided their outline proposals and we hope to be able to select a final shortlist by the end of the year. Obviously, for commercial reasons, the identities of the bidders will remain confidential. The outcome of the competition will be announced in the summer of 2000.

§ Mr. Peter Ainsworth
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on security arrangements at the Millennium Dome. [95120]

§ Janet Anderson
[holding answer 25 October 1999]: The New Millennium Experience Company has regular discussions with the Metropolitan Police about all aspects of security. By definition, it would not be helpful to reveal the detail of those discussions or of the security arrangements implemented as a result. I am satisfied that those arrangements are both robust and comprehensive.

§ Mrs. Lait
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what policy towards the employment of people with disabilities he has asked the operators of the Millennium Dome to follow. [95082]

§ Janet Anderson
The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has an equal opportunities employment policy. To ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to vacancies, NMEC is working with Manpower, the Employment Service and a number of specialist agencies. All applicants with a disability are offered an initial interview. They, like all other applicants for vacancies, are assessed on their ability to perform particular jobs to an acceptable standard. Where an individual fails an initial or any subsequent interview, constructive follow-up advice is offered.